Richards on top form for VC Baracchi

Alongside the East Anglian VTTA event on the A11 on Wednesday a separate event was created for non-veterans, in which VCB’s Mark Richards had a splendid 21:45 ride.

Richards in the event (photo by courtesy of Fergus Muir)

It was not quite as special, however, as the personal best time of Joe Skipper (Rock Estate) of 19:54, to win this separate event.

Joe Skipper of Rock Estate (photo by courtesy of Fergus Muir)

John Thompson rode in the main event, timed in at 28:02. 77-year-old Len Benton of Colchester Rovers CC won the veteran top prize with +6:49 against his veteran standard from a 23:51 actual time.

The fastest veteran was 42-year-old Jason Kierman of St Ives CC in 20:18.

In Saturday’s East Anglian VTTA event from Newmarket on the A14 and A11 Chris Womack rode another sub-hour 25 miles, 59:50. As he observed, it was nine seconds slower than his previous ride on this “E2” course.

Thompson achieved 1-12:15 and spoke of the unhelpful headwind on the mostly uphill first leg. The fastest solo ride was by Peter Lawrence of Team Swift in 50:02.

Glenn Taylor of Shorter Rochford RT and Mark Arnold of Desireagear CC, aged 47 and 40 respectively, took 2:08 off the national veterans’ record on the tandem with their 46:44 result.

Racheal Elliott of Newbury RC was the fastest lady with 55.26. Other times of interest to local riders were John Dupen (Anglia Velo) 1-01:49, Mark Fairhead (CC Breckland) 1-01:07, Chris Nudds (CC Breckland) 56:41 and Ian McCluskey (Diss CC) 57:35.

In the Godric CC club 10 last Tuesday Mark Richards of VCB rode through the heavy headwind well and pedalled just into the 22-minute bracket by a good tailwind return. His time was 22:59 and he was fourth of the 31 solo riders.

James Moore of VCB also had a very good ride with 23:42, for fifth place. Ali Banks achieved 26:04 and the mixed tandem duo of John Swanbury and Kate Churchill rounded off the VCB results with 24:06.

Kate Churchill at the finish

The winner was Nick Partridge of Plomesgate CC in 22:13.

Paul Dennington rode last week’s Gt Yarmouth CC 8.25-mile time trial and secured third place in a very respectable 20:17.

Mark Womack of VCB rode in the same event and also the week before and his times were fairly consistent, 22:59 previously and 23:03 last week.

Steve Konrad of the home club won both weeks, in 19:36 and 19:52 respectively.